KARACHI: Even before the first ball is delivered in the much-anticipated and entirely revamped Quaid-e-Azam Trophy that starts from Saturday, there seems to be utter confusion which has been created by the scheduling of fixtures, particularly in case of newly-established provincial outfit Southern Punjab.

The widespread publicity generated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the days leading up to the commencement of the trimmed six-team premier first-class championship, the emphasis is more on getting the new product identified among those who matter in the cricketing circles.

It is quite understandable the superficial changes made in the entire domestic cricket structure to make it grow smoothly as much as possible needs time. However, in their haste the domestic cricket managers seemed to have overlooked several factors in the overall planning.

There is obviously no confusion over formation of Southern Punjab team — which will be skippered by Test opener Shan Masood — or for that matter in the makeup of the other five first XI playing squads. In normal circumstances the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium in the city of saints would have served as the natural home base for Southern Punjab. But just like the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, the Multan ground is also currently undergoing a face-lift for the next Pakistan Super League season.

But with each provincial side scheduled to play 10 fixtures including half of the games to be staged under ‘home-and-away’ umbrella, Southern Punjab face a dilemma because there isn’t any so-called ‘home’ advantage for them at least in this inaugural season during which all visiting teams will have the option of bowling first, if they desire so, with the toss only necessary when they remain undecided.

Northern — mostly comprising of cricketers belonging to twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and the adjacent areas — have also every reason to feel aggrieved after learning that both of their games against Central Punjab are away at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium in the double round-robin tournament.

The PCB domestic cricket department has, inconspicuously, opted against scheduling some of Northern’s fixtures at the Diamond Club Ground in the federal capital despite it being a first-rate venue over the years. They are slated to play three ‘home’ ties at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi where general public is deemed as persona non grata for security reasons.

The return of Bugti Stadium in Quetta to the first-class scene after a yawning gap of 11 seasons is heartening for Balochistan who will be afforded the opportunity of playing four ‘home’ matches in their provincial capital, including both ties against Southern Punjab, who also have to play away to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa twice at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.

The abolishment of the previous 16-team first-class system — that featured eight regions and equally number of departments — had been primarily initiated to improve the overall standard by basing the whole exercise on quality rather quantity to take it as much closer as possible to international game with the Kookaburra balls being used throughout the domestic season.

Last season Habib Bank completed a grand double by winning the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the National One-day Cup before altogether closing their cricket team in early April. Two members of their winning squad — the then HBL captain Imran Farhat and Abid Ali — will be taking the field in opposite teams at the same UBL Sports Complex where the bankers won the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title after the final against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited ended in a draw. While Imran is the vice-captain to Balochistan skipper Haris Sohail, opener Abid will be turning out for the Sarfraz Ahmed-led Sindh team.

Sindh won’t have the services of 19-year-old Mohammad Hasnain in the opening game as the rookie Pakistan fast bowler is yet to return home from the Caribbean Premier League where he has been playing for Trinbago Knight Riders.

With Pakistan shortly due to host Sri Lanka in three One-day Internationals and as many Twenty20 Internationals between Sept 27 and Oct 9, the early matches in the championship will allow the new head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq to take a look at some of the potential candidates.

The ex-Pakistan captain will also be taking inputs from the head coaches — Arshad Khan (Balochistan), Azam Khan (Sindh), Abdul Rehman (Southern Punjab), Ijaz Ahmed Jr (Central Punjab), Mohammad Wasim (Northern) and Kabir Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) – of all first XI squads who would be doubling up as national selectors under the new formula designated by the PCB hierarchy.

The onus is now on the participating players to ensure there is a genuine feeling of competitiveness among them to stake their claims for Pakistan selection. However, several players have opted not to play red-ball cricket — notably Wahab Riaz and Imad Wasim — which this carries a record winners’ purse of Rs5,400,000 but still Rs300,000 less than to what the National T20 champions would be given this season.

Another salient feature is the PCB’s decision to take domestic cricket to the digital world with live-stream planned of one match from each round. Therefore, the derby clash at the Gaddafi Stadium between Central Punjab and Southern Punjab will be the first league-stage game to be live-streamed.

Meanwhile, the second XI six-team event of three-day matches will run concurrently with the first-class competition. The four-day final of this segment will be staged at the SBP Sports Complex in Karachi from Nov 26.

First-class schedule:

Sept 14-17: Sindh vs Balochistan (UBL Sports Complex, Karachi); Central Punjab vs Southern Punjab (Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Northern (Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad).

Sept 21-24: Sindh vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (UBL Sports Complex, Karachi); Balochistan vs Southern Punjab (Bugti Stadium, Quetta); Central Punjab vs Northern (Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad).

Sept 28-Oct 1: Balochistan vs Central Punjab (Bugti Stadium, Quetta); Northern vs Sindh (KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi); Southern Punjab vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad).

Oct 5-8: Sindh vs Southern Punjab (UBL Sports Complex, Karachi); Northern vs Balochistan (KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Central Punjab (Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad).

Oct 28-31: Balochistan vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Bugti Stadium, Quetta); Central Punjab vs Sindh (Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad); Southern Punjab vs Northern (Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot).

Nov 4-7: Southern Punjab vs Balochistan (Bugti Stadium, Quetta); Central Punjab vs Northern (Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Sindh (Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad).

Nov 11-14: Sindh vs Northern (National Stadium, Karachi); Central Punjab vs Balochistan (Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Southern Punjab (Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad).

Nov 18-21: Sindh vs Central Punjab (National Stadium, Karachi); Northern vs Southern Punjab (KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Balochistan (Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad).

Nov 25-28: Balochistan vs Northern (UBL Sports Complex, Karachi); Southern vs Sindh Punjab (National Stadium, Karachi); Central Punjab vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore).

Dec 2-5: Northern vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (UBL Sports Complex, Karachi); Balochistan vs Sindh (National Stadium, Karachi); Southern Punjab vs Central Punjab (SBP Sports Complex, Karachi).

Dec 9-13: Final (National Stadium, Karachi).

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2019